Automatic cistern cut-off and self-cleaning filter.



No. 736,388. I PATENTED AUG. 18, 1903.

A. B. B HARRIS.

AUTOMATIC GISTERN GUT-OFF AND-SELF CLEANING FILTER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 16. 1902.

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A. B. B. HARRIS.

AUTOMATIC'GISTERN GUT-OFF A'ND SELF CLEANING FILTER. APPLICATION FILEDMAY 1g. 19oz.

PATENTED AUG. 18, 1903.

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UNITED STATES iatented August 18, 19053.

PATENT OFFICE.

ALEXANDER B. B. HARRIS, OF GEORGETOWN, SOUTH CAROLINA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 736,388, dated August18, 1903.

Application filed May 16, 1902.

.To all whom it may concern.-

tion is to improve these structures by providing novel means which willprevent the first of the rain-water that contains the dirt and trash ofthe roof from passing into the cistern, but will turn the water intosaid cistern after the roof is thoroughly washed, said means being,furthermore, arranged so that in casev of closely-succeeding showers anundue amount of water will not be wasted.

In the accompanying drawings there are illustrated several forms orembodiments of the invention, the construction and operation of whichare fully described in the following specification.

In said drawings, Figure l is a sectional view through the preferredform when not in use. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the Fig. 3 is aslight modification from the structure illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, andFig. 4 isstill another modification. Fig. 5' is a detail cross-sectionalview taken through the perforate portion of the in: let-pipe.

In all-the drawings, however, similar reference-numerals refer tosimilar parts.

Taking up first the structure illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, it will benoted that a receptacle is employed, which is preferably formed of metaland has a removable cover 11 and a central discharge-opening 12 in, itsbottom. Extending across an intermediate portion of the receptacle is aremovable frame 12, supported by suitable meansas, for instance, a rib13formed in the walls of the tank, as shown. Suspended beneath thisframe is a strainer 14-, preferably of some suitably textile material.This construction constitutes thefilter, though it will be understoodthat other forms may be employed, as desired Serial No. 107,640. (Nomodel.)

as, for instance, the granular filter shown and described in theabove-mentioned patent. This filter divides the interior of thereceptacle into a lower compartment 15 and an upper compartment 16. Aninlet-pipe 17, connected with the down-spout from an eavestroughcommunicates with the lower compartment 15 below the filter, while theoutlet-pipe 18 leads from the upper compartment 16 above the filter.Pivotally supported intermediate its ends upon the upper portion of thereceptacle is a lever 19, the inner arm of which extends within thereceptacle, the outer arm projecting from the same, said arms beingpreferably arranged in angular relation, as shown. Suspended from theinner end of the lever and arranged within the receptacle is awater-bucket 20, that is arranged above the filter and has anoverflow-pipe 21, leading from its upper portion to a point below thefilter. This pipe comprises telescopingsections 21 and 21, the lowersection 21 pass ing through the filter and being secured thereto, theupper section being attached to the water-bucket and movable therewith.The up per end of the upper section 21 extends nearly to the, top of thebucket and communicates therewith, while a small opening 22, formed inthe pipe contiguous to the bottom of the bucket affords communicationbetween the interior of the lower portion of the bucket and the interiorof the pipe. This opening is covered by a small piece of felt 23 orother material which will permit the water to pass slowly therethrough.A valve 24 controls the residue-discharge opening 12 and is providedwith a stem 25, which passes through the overflow-pipe 2land is alsoattached to the inner end of the lever, so that when the inner end ofsaid lever is depressed the valve will be seated in the opening 12, andthereby close the same. In order to normally hold the valve in elevatedposition, a weight 26 is secured upon the outer end of the lever, beingslidable thereon, so that when .saido'uter endflis elevated and theinner end depressed the weight will automatically slide/towardthe'pivot, the sliding movement being limited by a stop 27, secured tothe lever. The outby a stop, as 28, secured to the end of the lever. Theinlet-pipe 17is provided at apoint ward movement of said weight is alsolimited above the receptacle with an ofiset inclined portion 29, whichis perforated, as at 30, the openings being of any desired'shape andsize, and, if preferred, a single large opening may be employed. Theperforate portion of the pipe is inclosed within a jacket consisting ofa stationary cup-shaped member 31, which rigidly embraces the pipe andis of greater diameter thereof, the open top or upper end of thejacket-section 31 being closed by an endwise-shiftable jacket member 32,which has its outer end contracted to frictionally embrace the pipe, andits inner end-portion enlarged, so as to lie out of contact with thepipe and telescope within the jacket-section 31, whereby an annularspace is provided about the pipo,and thewaterescapingthrough theperforations 30 is designed to be collected in this space, from which itis conducted to the bucket 20 by means of a pipe or spout 33,

which is carried by the jacket-section 31 and pierces the top or coverof the receptacle. The adjustable or shiftable jacket-section 32 isnormally telescoped within the section 31, so as to close the normalwater-space about the perforate portion 'of the pipe 17 to prevent lossof the water escaping through the perforations and is capable of beingshifted out of engagement with the section 31, so as to expose theperforations for the purpose of removing any obstructions which maylodge therein. The operation of this structure may probably be bestdescribed as follows: Under normal conditions or when there is no rainthe apparatus will be in the position shown in Fig. 1. When the weatherhas been dry and it is apparent that much dust and dirt has accumulatedon the roof, the weight 26 is placed in its outermost position. It willtherefore be apparent that when a shower takes place the first waterdescending through the inlet-pipe 17 will pass freely through theresidue-discharge12. At the same timeasmallproportion of the descendingwater will pass through the openings 30into the branch pipe 33, and,passing therethrough, will gravitate into the water-bucket 20., If therain is of sufficient duration and volume, the bucket will be filled orpartially filled, thereby overbalancing the weight 26 and depressing theinner end of the lever, consequently seating the valve 24 in thedischarge-opening 12. The water will now rise in the receptacle, passthrough the filter, and discharge into the outlet-pipe 18, which is ofcourse connected with the cistern. This is very clearly shown in- Fig.2. At the same time the outer end of the lever will be elevated, andconsequently the weight 26 will slide toward the pivot, its movement inthis direction, however, being limited by the stop 27. As long as therain continues the waterbucket will remain filled, or partly so; but

- any overflow into the upper compartment is prevented by the pipe 21,which will convey the surplus water from said bucket to a point belowthe filter, so that said water must necessarily pass through saidfilter. When the rain has slackened or stopped entirely, the water inthe bucket will gradually lower as it passes through the lower opening22; but this will take considerable time, and therefore in the case of aclosely-succeeding shower the valve will still be closed and no waterwasted. If the length of time is such as to permit nearly all the waterto discharge from the bucket, the valve will be elevated, therebyreleasing the water within the lower portion of the receptacle andpermitting it to discharge rapidly. This reverse movement of the waterthrough the filter will thoroughly cleanse the same, and being of clothit will soon dry. Should another shower fall after the valve has beenagain elevated, a small just counterbalances the combined weight.

of the bucket and the water therein, a comparatively small proportion ofwater entering the bucket will again close the valve. It will beobserved that the weight can be adjusted to any desired position alongthe outer arm of the lever according to the length of time between therains.

The structure'illustrated in Fig. 3 is substantially the same as thatalready described, with the exception that the offset portion 29 of theinlet-pipe 17 is dispensed with, as is also the branch pipe 33. In thisinstance a separate conductor pipe 31 is employed, which may extend froman independent source other than the down-spout, such as thecistern-roof, or perhaps a specially-constructed roof, the area of whichfurnishes sufficient water togive the required result. In this instancethere is alsoillustrated a slightlydifferent form of discharge from thebottom of the bucket, which may be employed when desired. In this formthe opening 22 is dispensed with and an opening 22 is formed in thelower edge contiguous to one side, the bottom of the bucket inclining tosaid opening. A discharge-spout 21 is located directly beneath theopening 22 and extends through the walls of the receptacle above thewaterlevel or upper edge of the outlet-pipe 18.

In Fig. at there is illustrated still another modification. In thisinstance the lever 19 is suspended beneath the receptacle, the bucketbeing supported upon one end, preferably beneath the inlet-pipe,'andwater is carried from the jacket 31 by means of a pipe 33, which,instead of piercing the top of'the receptacle, as in Figs. 1 and2,passes downwardly at one side of the receptacle and discharges into thebucket 20. The bucket is furthermore provided with the usual outlet 22in its bottom. The valve-stem 23 in the present instance extends fromthe leverv still maintained, as is also the general arrangement of theinterior of the receptacle.

The operation in both of these latter cases is of course precisely thesame as that already described.

While various forms of filtering devices may be employed, I prefer touse that shown in the drawings as being the least expensive a filterconsists of a frame having a central plate or body 12 which is providedwith an opening through which the pipe-section 21 is projected, and alsohas the arms 12, which are carried by and radiate from the body and areconnected at their outer ends by a circumferential rim or band 12, whichnormally rests upon the annular shoulder 13. This frame is designed tosupport and stretch the textile material 14, which forms the filterproper, said textile material having a central opening for the receptionof the lower projected end of the pipe-section 21", with the outerperipheral edge of the material clamped snugly between the outer rim orband 12,

M the supporting-flange 13, and the inner walls of the receptacle 10,whereby it is not necessary to fasten the textile material directly tothe frame, and therefore the filtering mate rial may be readily replacedwhen worn or damaged.

It is apparent that quick heavy showers will cause a much quickerclosing of. the residue-opening 12 by the valve 2.4 than lightershowers, but a quick heavy shower may not clean the roof in aproportionately short time,

of water passing down the inlet-pipe.

predetermined relation with respect to the V amount of water passingdown the inlet-pipe,

so that the valve 2at'will be closed at the proper time to preventunnecessary loss of Water and also to prevent dirty water from passinginto the receptacle. In practice it is .upreferred to have the rate ofsupply to the bucket decrease as the main supply to the inlet-pipeincreases in order that the valve may close slowly with respect to anincreased water-supply through the inlet-pipe. For exam- I ple, shouldthe flow of rain in one instance be twice as heavy as in anotherinstance, the valve would ordinarily close in half the time; but it isdoubtful that the roof would be cleansed in half the time, and thereforeit is i designed to have the rate of increased supply to the bucketsomewhat less than the in- 5 creased supply through the inlet-pipe inorder that it may take more than half the time to close the valve,whereby there will be plenty of time for the roof to become cleansedbefore the valve is closed and water is supplied to the filter. Onemeans for carrying out this important feature consists in having theperforations 30 decrease in size from the lower side to the upper sideof the inclined offset part 29 of the inlet-pipe, whereby. as thesurface of the water rises in the pipe-section 29 the increased rate ofescape through the perforations 30 will be less than the increased rateof the total amount of water passing down the inlet-pipe. It ispreferred to have the perforations 30 at one side .of the pipe staggeredwith relation to the perforations on the opposite side of the pipe, as

plainly indicated in Fig. 5 of the drawings, in order that as the levelof the water rises in the pipe it will escape alternately at oppositesides-that is to say, it is not necessary for the level of the water torise the'entire distance between successive rows of perforations beforeit can escape, as there is an intermediate row of perforations upon theopposite side of the pipe. It will of course be understood that thereare no perforations in the bottom of the pipe-section 29, so that theWater from a very light shower which is not sufficient to cleanse theroof may pass down the inlet-pipe without affecting the valve.

While I have described the device in detail as a filter, it is of courseapparent that the filtering device proper may be omitted and the deviceemployed as an automatic cut-off, operating to permit of the dirty waterescaping through the residue-opening 12 and to close said opening afterthe roof has been cleansed, so that all of the water that comesafterward may enter the receptacle 10 and pass 01f through the outlet 18to the cistern.

The advantages of the construction may be summed up as follows: In thefirst place the first water that is fouled by the dirt and dust upon theroof is allowed to escape without even reaching and soilingthe filter;but as soon asthe roof is washed the cleanwater is automatically turnedthrough the filter into the cistern. Should one shower be followed byanother-within a short time, very little, if any, water is wasted, andwhen the rain is over the valve is automatically opened. Further thanthis, the apparatus can be adjusted to different degrees of foulness ofthe roof, and in case of very light rain which is insufficient to evenclean the roof no water will be passed into the cistern. The clothfilter described is believed to be advantageous, as it will cleanseitself more thoroughly than granular filters and will quickly dry outaf: ter a rain is over, this being an important factor for sanitaryreasons. I

From the foregoing it is thought that th construction, operation, andmany advan-- tages of the herein-described invention will be apparent tothose skilled in the artwithout further description, and it will beunderstood that various changes in the size, shape, .proportion,andminor details of construction may be resorted to without departing fromthe spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described myinvention, What I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a structure of the class described, a receptacle having an inletand an outlet communicating therewith, said receptacle being alsoprovided with a residue-discharge, a pivoted lever, a valve'connected tothe lever and controlling the residue-discharge, a waterbucket alsoconnected to the lever, means for conveying water to the bucket, and acounterweight movably mounted upon the lever, said counterweight beingautomatically movable toward the pivot of said lever when the bucket isfilled.

2. In a structure of the class described, a receptacle having an inletand an outlet, said receptacle being also provided with aresiduedischarge, a lever pivotally supported intermediate its ends, avalve controlling the residue-discharge and a water-bucket connected toone end of the lever, means for conveying 'water to the bucket, and acounterweight slidably mounted upon the other end of the lever, saidcounterweight being automatically movable toward the pivot of saidlever, when the bucket is filled with water.

3. In a structure of the class described, a receptacle having'an inletand an outlet, said receptacle being also provided with aresiduedischarge, a lever pivotally supported intermediate its ends, avalve controlling the residue-discharge and a water-bucket connected toone end of the lever, means for conveying water to the bucket, acounterweight slidably mounted upon the other end of the lever, saidcounterweight being automatically movable toward the pivot of said leverwhen the bucket is filled with water, and a stop for limiting the inwardmovement-of the counterweight.

4. In a structure of the class described, a receptacle having an inletand an outlet, said receptacle being also provided with aresiduedischarge, a lever pivotally supported intermediate its ends, avalve controlling the residue-discharge and a water-bucket connected toone end of the lever, means for conveying water to the bucket, acounterweight slidably mounted upon the other end of the lever, saidcounterweight being automatically movable toward the pivot of said leverwhen the bucket is filled with water, and spaced stops located upon thelever to limit the sliding movement of the counterweight in eitherdirection.

5. In a structure of the class described, the combination with areceptacle, of a filter arranged within the receptacle, an inlet-pipecommunicating with the receptacle on one side of the filter, saidreceptacle having a residue-discharge arranged on the same side of thefilter as the inlet-pipe, an outlet-pipe leading from the receptaclefrom the other side of the filter, a lever, a valve connected with thelever and controlling the residue-discharge, a water-bucket alsoconnected with the lever,and a counterweight slidably mounted upon thelever and automatically movable toward the pivot of the lever when thebucket is filled with water.

6. In a structure of the class described, the combination with areceptacle, of a filter arranged within the receptacle, an inlet-pipecommunicating with the receptacle on one side of the filter, saidreceptacle also having a residue-discharge located on the same side ofthe filter as the inlet-pipe, an outlet-pipe leading from the receptacleupon the other side of the filter, a lever pivotally supportedintermediate its ends, a valve controlling the resid ue-dischargeandawater-bucket connected to one end of the lever,and a counterweightslidably mounted upon the other end of the lever and automaticallymovable when said latter end is elevated.

7. In a structure of the class described, an

inclosed receptacle havingaresid ue-discharge in its bottom, and afilter extending across an intermediate portion of the same, awaterinlet leading to the receptacle below the filter, a water-outletleading from the receptacle above the filter, a lever pivotedintermediate its ends to the receptacle, a valve for controlling theresidue-discharge and a Water-bucket connected to the inner end of thelever, means for conducting water to the bucket, spaced stops carried bythe outer end of the lever, and a counterweight slidably mounted uponsaid outer end between the stops, said counterweight being automaticallymovable upon the elevation of the lever by the filling of the bucket.

8. In a structure of the class described, a receptacle having an inletand an outlet communicating therewith, said receptacle being alsoprovided with a residue discharge, a pivoted lever having one enddisposed exteriorly of the receptacle, a valve connected to the leverand controlling the residuedischarge, a water-bucket also connected tothe lever, means for conveying water to the bucket, and a counterweightmovably mounted upon thatportion of the lever which is disposedexteriorly of the receptacle, said counterweight being automaticallymovable toward the pivot of the lever when said lever is tilted by apreponderance in weight of water in the bucket, and also automaticallymovable in the opposite direction when the weight of water in the buckethas been reduced below the weight of the counterweight.

9. In a structure of the class described, a receptacle having an inletand an outlet communicating therewith, said receptacle being alsoprovided with a res idue-discharge, a pivoted lever, a valve connectedto the lever and controlling the residue-discharge, a waterbucket alsoconnected to the lever, means for conveying water to the bucket, and acounterweight movably mounted upon the lever, said counterweight beingautomatically movable izc below the weight of the counterweight.

.10. In a structure of the class described, a receptacle having aresidue-discharge, a. water bucket, a valve movable with the waterbucketand controlling the discharge, an upright inlet-pipe leading to thereceptacle and having a transversely-disposed portion provided with agraduated discharge, and means to carry the water which escapes from thesaid discharge to the water-bucket.

11. In a structure of the class described, a receptacle having aresidue-discharge, a water-bucket, a valve movable with the waterbucketand controlling the discharge, an inlet-pipe leading to the receptacleand provided with a perforate portion, a jacket surrounding theperforate portion of the pipe to collect the water which escapestherefrom, said jacket being formed in sections, one of which sectionsis movable away from the other to expose the perforations for removingobstructions therefrom, and a pipe leading from the jacket to thebucket.

12. In a structure of the class described, a receptacle having aresidue-discharge, a water-bucket, a valve movable with the waterbucketand controlling the discharge, an inlet-pipe having anoffset portionprovided with an opening, a jacket of greater diameter than andembracing the perforate portion of the inlet-pipe and having a portionmovable away from the perforations to expose the same, and a branch pipeleading from the jacket to the water-bucket.

13. In a structure of the class described, the combination with a closedreceptacle having a residue-discharge, of a lever pivoted to the wallsof the receptacle and extending within the same, a valve for controllingthe residuedischarge connected to the inner end of the lever, awater-bucket located within the receptacle and connected to the innerend of the lever, a weight arranged upon the outer end of the lever, awater-conducting pipe leading to the receptacle and having an offsetinclined portion provided with a plurality of openings, a jacket mountedupon the offset portion of the conductor-pipe and embracing theopenings, and a branch pipe leading from the jacket, through thereceptacle to the waten-bucket.

. let. In a structure of the class described, the

combination with a receptacle, of an intermediate filter member dividingthe receptacle into opposite chambers, an inlet and a residue-dischargefor one of the chambers, a counterbalanced water-bucket in the otherchamber, an outlet for said other chamber, meansto supply water to thebucket to overbalance the same, a valve operated by the water-bucket andcontrolling the residue-discharge, and means to carry the overflow frompoint exterior of the recepcontrolling the discharge, a counterbalancedwater-bucket for actuating the valve, and

means to carry off water from the upper andv lower portions of thebucket.

16. In a structure of the class described, a receptacle havingaresidue-discharge, a valve controlling the discharge, amovably-supported water-bucket for actuating the valve, and anoverflow-pipe leading from the waterbucket, said pipe havingcommunication with the interior of the bucket contiguous to its top andbottom.

17. In a structure of the class described, a receptacle having aresidue-discharge, a valve controlling the discharge, amovably-supported bucket for actuating the valve, and a pipe leadingfrom the bucket and comprising slidably-teleseoped sections.

18. In a structure of the class described, a receptacle having aresidue-discharge, a valve controlling the discharge, amovably-supported water-bucket for actuating the valve, and a pipeleading from the bucket, said pipe comprising a pair of telescopingsections, one of which is stationary with relation to the receptacle,the other being secured to and movable with the bucket.

19. In a structure of the class described, a receptacle having aresidue-discharge in its bottom, a filter extending across anintermediate portion of the receptacle, a bucket movably supportedwithin the receptacle above the filter, an overflow-pipe leading fromthe bucket, said pipe comprising telescoping sections, the lower ofwhich is attached to and extends through the filter, the upper beingsecured to the bucket and movable therewith, and a valve controllingthe"residue-discharge opening, said valve having a stem that passesthrough the overflow-pipe.

20. In a structure of the class described, a receptacle having an inlet,an outlet, a residue-discharge, and an inner annular flange disposedbetween the inlet and outlet, a filter comprising an open framesupported upon the flange and provided at its center with an open-endedtube, a textile filtering material applied to the frame with its outerperipheral edge frictionall y held between the outer edge of theframe,the inner walls of the receptacle and the flange, a valve for theresidueopening, a valve-stem working in the tube of the filter-frame, acounterbalanced waterbucket connected to the valve stem, and means forconducting water to the bucket to overbalance the same.

21. In a structure of the class described, a receptacle having aresidue-discharge, a water-bucket, a valve movable with the waterbucketand controlling the residue-discharge, an inlet-pipe leading to thereceptacle and having an inclined or ofise't portion provided with agraduated discharge, the inlet-pipe ceptaole above theresidue-discharge, so that the water entering the inlet-pipe which doesnot pass through the graduated discharge empties into theresidue-discharge, and means communicating with the graduated dischargeof the inlet-pipe to carry the water which escapes from the saiddischarge to the waterbucket.

22. In astructure of the class described, the combination with areceptacle having an inlet, an outlet, and a residue-discharge, of aValve for the residue-discharge, a counterbalanced water-bucketconnected to the valve, an inlet-pipe connected to the inlet and havingan offset portion which is provided with a plurality oflongitudinally-disposed sets of perforations which decrease in size fromthe lower side to the upper side of the pipe and means communicatingwith the said perforations and discharging into the water-bucket.

.23. In a structure of the class described, the combination with areceptacle having an inlet, an outlet, and a residue-discharge, of aninlet-pipe connected to the inlet and having an inclined offset portionwhich is provided with an outlet which varies in size transversely ofthe pipe, a jacket spaced from and surrounding the outlet to receivewater therefrom, a branch pipe leading from the jacket,acontrolling-valve for the residue-discharge, and a counterbalancedwater-bucket connected to the valve and disposed to receive thedischarge from the branch pipe.

24. In a structure of the class described, the combination with areceptacle having an inlet, an outlet, and a residue-discharge, of avalve for the residue-discharge, a'counterbalanced water-bucketconnected tothe valve, an inlet-pipe connected to the inlet and havingan inclined offset portion which is provided with a plurality oflongitudinally-disposed sets of perforations which decrease in size fromthe lower side to'the upper side of the pipe, a jacket of greaterdiameter than and embracing the perforate portion of the pipe, and abranch pipe leading from the jacket to the water-bucket.

25. In astructure of the class described, the combination with areceptacle having an inlet, an outlet, and a residue-discharge, of avalve for the residue-discharge, a counterbalanced water-bucketconnected to the valve,

an inlet-pipe connected to the inlet and havmunicating therewith, saidreceptacle being also provided with a residue-discharge, anintermediately-pivoted lever having its opposite ends inclined towardthe pivot, a valve connected to one end of the lever and controlling theresidue-discharge, a water-bucket connected to the same end portion ofthe lever, means for conveying water to the bucket, and a counterweightslidably mounted upon the opposite end portion of the lever, saidcounterweight being automatically movable toward the pivot of the leverwhen the bucket is depressed by the weight of water therein. Intestimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afiixed mysignature in the presence of two witnesses;

ALEXANDER B. B. HARRIS. Witnesses:

JOHN H. SIGGERS, GEORGE TATE.

